Banned driver caught behind wheel is jailed

A BANNED motorist who was caught driving back from seeing his severely ill dad has been jailed.

Christopher Atkinson was given a six-week prison sentence by Hartlepool magistrates after he admitted driving while disqualified and without insurance.

The 30-year-old said he was only behind the wheel on May 25 because he wanted to take his grandma and sister to see his dad who was on “his death bed” in Newcastle.

Town justices heard Atkinson, who was already in prison for a separate drug offence, had been banned from the roads for being caught drink driving in October 2008 when he was given a three year disqualification.

On top of the jail term, they also endorsed Atkinson’s driving licence with six points.

Lynne Dalton, prosecuting, said: “Police were patrolling when they saw a car being driven erraticly.

“It came to a stop in High Street and checks revealed the driver was disqualified and that it was his partner’s car.”

John Relton, mitigating, said being caught had been a big blow to Atkinson, of High Street, on the Headland, Hartlepool, as he is “desperate” to join the Army to get his life on track.

Mr Relton added: “His argument is it was a family emergency.

“His dad was on his death bed so he took his girlfriend’s car and took his grandmother and sister with him.